NFL Free Agency: Could Terrelle Pryor Really Leave The Cleveland Browns?

The NFL free agency period will officially be here very soon. Does that mean Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor‘s time in NE Ohio is set to end?

The Cleveland Browns are in a tough spot. In the coming days, they could lose one of their few key offensive players in Terrelle Pryor.

Outside of Pryor at wide receiver, the quality of talent is not where it needs to be. Even with him, the position as a whole is not the greatest, but that is largely due to their youth and lack of experience.

Pryor just completed his first full season at his new position and he showed early on that he can make plays. As a result, Pryor is destined for a lucrative contract.

Now, Pryor’s season in 2016 was nice to see, but he is still a work in progress at the position. There’s no question how athletic he is, but his resume is not (yet) among the best at wide receiver. With so much potential and a high ceiling, Pryor will benefit from the NFL free agency.

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As tempting as it is to keep Pryor, Cleveland needs to maintain their stance in Pryor’s negotiations. If Pryor was more established, signing him to a very lucrative contract would be worth it.

However, knowing that Cleveland did not franchise tag Pryor and has yet to make enough negotiating progress is not a good sign. Pryor, rightfully so, is looking to get paid. As much as he has been hoping to stay in Cleveland, Pryor’s expectations very well may not fit the Browns’ vision financially.

By now Cleveland and Pryor should have had reached a deal. The two parties still can accomplish that goal, but as the days prolong, the chances don’t appear to be in the cards.

According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, Pryor is of interest to five other NFL teams, including his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Without Pryor, Cleveland will have to rely on multiple second year wide receivers, led by Corey Coleman.

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Should Pryor not come back to Cleveland, the Browns would be wise to have a realistic plan to keep up production. After all, the wide receivers drafted year would have to make a significant jump to really impact the offense in the fall. Unfortunately, that is no sure thing.

Among the teams Cabot listed, the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles should be the Browns’ biggest competition. Both organizations need an up and coming talent like Pryor to make plays. Based off of their rosters, the need for Pryor is at the same level as Cleveland.

The one difference though among the Browns and the Titans and Eagles is quarterback. With Marcus Mariota in Tennessee and Carson Wentz in Philly, a talented quarterback is in place. That is not the case with Cleveland.

Being able to work with a quarterback like Mariota or Wentz is understandably tempting and that is a major reason why I don’t envision Pryor back in Cleveland. If Tennessee, Philadelphia, or another team is willing to pay Pryor like he is one of the best already, then so be it.

Of course it is ideal and preferred to keep a talent like Pryor. On the other hand, with only one true season under his belt, there is a price to say that screams too much!

How the next day or so is going to be interesting. Who knows, instead of Pryor, they may end up signing a young, under the radar veteran instead.

Next: Reconsider Fandom If QB Goes First Overall?

Did many of us expect them to go with Coleman last offseason in the draft? Nope and with that said, another move like that may be inevitable.